Parking meter



April 1, 1958 l.. D. soLLENBl-:RGER ETAL 2,828,909

PARKING METER Filed Feb. 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l I f l n 35 z /pl iL-ml *l- Q L. D. soLLENBl-:RGER AL 2,828,909

April 1,' 1958 PARKING METER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- Filed Feb. 16, 1955 BY dgg a W ZON,

L. D. soLLENBERGl-:R ErAL April 1, 195s PARKING METER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 16, 1955 BY adn@ PARKING METER Lester D. Sollenberger and Rodney J. Faxon, Chicago, Ill., nssignors to Miller Meters, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application February 16, 1955, Serial No. 488,600 4 claims. (cl. 2vs2-1s) This invention relates to a parking meter and more particularly to a mounting arrangement for a multiple array of parking meters.

It is a general object of the present invention to produce a new and .improved parking meter mounting.

l It is a more specific object of the invention to produce a mounting for an array of parking meters wherein a pluralityof parking meters can be mounted in any one of a number of preselected positions so as to face one way. or the other as may best t the installation situation.

It isy a further Yobject of the invention to produce a parking meter mounting wherein a single locked coin receptacle is provided for the reception of coins from a plurality of parking meters. p

An additional object of the invention is to produce a parking meter stand or mounting provided with means on itstop to receive a pair of parking meters wherein the parking meters can be faced in any one of a number of directions as may be required and, furthermore, can readily be shifted from one position to another and to further provide' suchmounting with a single coin recep` tacle operative to receive coins from bothmeters regardless of their manner of mounting thereon.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a'front elevational view of a parking meter arrayembodying the invention;l

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the array of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a'view like Fig. 2 but showing the parking meters shifted imposition;

' Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view along line `4.--4 of Fig. 1;

: Fig. r5 is a Fig- 4; f

vFig.'6 is apartial vertical sectional view along line 6--6 of Fig. 8;

vertical sectional view along line 5%-5 of Fig. 7 is a View showing details of the coin slot of the coin receptacle; H g Y Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 8 8 of Fig. 5i n Fig. 9 `is'a view like Fig. 8 showing a modiiied form of construction; and

r Fig. 10 is a vhorizontal sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Fig. v5. n l

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms', there is shown in the drawings and will hereiny be described in detail several embodiments, with theunderstanding that theA present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplication of the principles of the invention and is not vintended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope nited States Patent O of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

f While parking meters are normally found along the curbs .of streets and mounted singly on posts opposite each parking place, it is not uncommon to find parking meters mounted in pairs on a single post, one accommodating the parking space on one side of the post, and theV other the parking space on the opposite side of the post. Furthermore, parking meters may be mounted in pairs in a parking lot with the meters governing the parking in opposite parking stalls.

For the most part, such multiple arrays of parking meters were in the past simply a duplication in all details of a single meter and in many instances the mount ing post was provided with two mounting arms similar in construction to the post and each of which carried a parking meter. In all such cases the parking meters were complete, each carrying its own coin receptacle and acting wholly independently of the other meter. ln addition such prior mountings were'oi'ten inexible'in that the parking meters need be mounted in certain predetermined facing relationships regarding each other and regarding the post which carried them.

According to the present invention, however, there is provided an improved parking meter array which may utilize a single coin receptacle to receive the coins 'dise charged from all the meters constituting the array'and one in which the meters may be shifted relative to each other andv to the mounting so as to face in any one of a number of directions. The coin receptacle and mounting may be so arranged that regardless of the position in which a meter on the array is faced, coins discharged from that meter will be guided into the receptacle and thus may be removed'in a single operation. v

The embodiments of the invention chosen for the purposes of exemplary disclosure are illustrated generally in the drawings, and referring new to the rigores there is disclosed a parking meter array it including a casing 21 having a hollow 22 forming a compartment therein. The casing 2 may be supported upon afpost 23 in the usual manner and is adapted to carry a plurality of parking meters, in this case two meters 2li.' The casing is provided with an access door 2a' hinged across its top at 26 with the door opening into the compartment 22 and operated by a key placed within the lock 2'7 fixed to the door. The lock 27 operates a lug 28 (Fig. 8) engaging shoulder 29 formed on the base of thecasing 2l.

vThe casing 21 is open at its top and extending across the top of the casing thereby closing it is a substantially horizontally arranged plate 30 securedto the top of the casing by suitable screw devices. inasmuch as the compartment 22 is adapted to contain a coin receptacle hereinafter to be more fully described and such receptacle would be accessible merely by removing the plate 39, the plate is provided with a pair of ings 3i Vattending downwardly from the plate and into the compartment 22. Screws 32 extend through suitable openings in the lugs 31 and are threadably received in holes provided in the casing 2l. inasmuch as the screws 32 are beneath the plate 30 and are accessible only from within the compartment 22, removal of the plate'it and access to the coin receptacle is not possible by a person authorized only to service or repair the meters.

The upper surface of the plate 30 is provided with twometer housing receiving portions in the form of square grooves 33 and 34. The meter housings 37 and 38 are provided with square bases and 36 matching in size the grooves 33 and 34 so as to seat thereon. Contained within each meter housing is a parking meter having the usual time and violation indicating means 39 and 4b, coin slots 41, and operating or winding handles 42 and 43. lnasmuch, as previously noted, it is contemplated that the parking meters 24 may be arranged on the casing 21 in dierent positions and the coin receptacle `for the meters is located within the casing,'means must be provided vfor guiding coins discharged from the meter mechanisms into the coin receptacle. 'For this purpose the plate 39 is provided with three coin guidechutes 44,' each'having sides 45 and 46 and a downwardly sloping bottom 4'7 ending in two right angula'rly arranged slots 43 `and 49. Only three such coin slots 44V are provided within the `confines of 'each parking meterreceiving portion on the plate as but three positions for the meter housingare contemplated. lf more or less positions are desired, the number of chutes144 can be moditied accordingly.

.On the interior of each meter .housingthere are provided fourlugs each provided with holes 51 through which screws may extend to engagethreaded holes in both the plate 30 (for the screws near the center of the array) and the casing 21 (for the screws at the sides of the casing). Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, the screws 51 are received in suitable threaded openings formed in the plate while the screws 51" are received in suitable threaded openings formed in the bosses 50 `formed on the interior surface of the casing 21.

Each parking meter mechanism has a coin discharge passage S2 through which coins deposited in the parking meters are dropped after they have performed their part in setting the indicating and timing means of the meter.

Located within the compartment 22 is a sealed coin box 53. To aid in positioning the .box within the compartment 22 there is provided a pairof upstandingparallel ribs 54 integrally formed in the bottom of the casing and extending parallel to each other from front to rear thereof. guide the bottom portion of the coin receptacle 53. The coin box 53 is provided with a hinged bottom 56 `which may be opened by a key in order to dump coins therefrom. As best shown in Fig. 6, the bottom 56 is provided with an outstruck ring portion 57 engaged by a hook SS secured tothe barrel 59 of a `lock tlvmounted inthe front face of the coin receptacle.

On the top of the coin receptacle 53 there are provided two coin entry slots 61 each provided with fingers 62 (Fig. 8) to prevent coins from being Ajiggled out of the receptacle. The slots 61 are positioned (in each case) in a rotatable member 63 provided, and shown in Fig. 7, with peripheral notches 64 along its outer edge engageable with a stop 65 so that thefslot 61 can be located either in the solid line position or the dotted line position therein illustrated.

The proper position for the slots 61 is determined by whether or not the coins discharged from the meter mechanism will run down the coin chutes into the slot 48 or the slot 49 and, of course, `theslot 61 is arranged to be in alignment with whichever slotl is to deliver the coin to it.

The `embodiment of the invention just described includes the use of locked coin receptacle 53. This may be delivered to a central collecting agency in its locked condition (being replaced by an'empty receptacle by the meter maintenance personnel) or `may be unlocked on the spot and emptied into a suitable container. lf it is desired to dispense with the sealed box type of coin receptacle, the receptacle of Fig.V 9 may be used. In general. the embodiment of Fig. 9 is similar to the preferred embodiment previously described and similar parts are given similar reference numerals with the sutiix a added without describing the part. In the embodiment of Fig. 9, the grooves 47 and slots 48 and 49 in the plate 3d As shown in Fig. 5, the ribs 54 engage and are replaced by a large opening positioned above a coin receptacle 71 having a slanting side 72 beneath each opening 70 (there being one opening 70 for each meter receiving portion). The bottom 73 of the receiving receptacle slants toward the door 25a so that upon opening the door, the coins will be dumped into a suitable container.

From the foregoing descriptions it is clear that certain features of the invention are adaptable for use in conjunction with either the dump type of coin receptacle or the locked or sealed type. In thelatter case, while a locked box has been illustrated, it will.` be clear to those skilled in the art that the lock may be replaced or supplemented by a seal and thus pilfering of the contents of the box by the employee charged with lcollecting the boxes can be discouraged. In any event, the mounting provided by the present invention Ypermits its ready adaption to varying locations or requirements of installations and without the necessity of Adesigning or supplyingA several different types of mountings each usable only in a particular locatien or arrangement.

We claim:

l. A parking meterarray comprising ahollow .casing provided with an upper horizontalexterior surface having a plurality of square meter receiving portions, a plurality of meter housings each `having a square base attachable to said receiving portion in` any one of `a plurality of positions,- a meter.mechanism in each of said meter housings, each of said mechanisms having a coin discharge passage,-a coin receptacle inthe hollow of said casing, and coin guide meansextendingbetween the coin discharge passage of each metermechanism and said coin receptacle to guide coins discharged fromuthe lpassages into said coin receptacle.

2. A parking meter array comprisinga hollowcasing having an open top, va coin `receptacleinthe hollow of the casing, a substantially horizontally 'arranged plate secured across the top of said casing, a #plurality of meter `housing receiving portions formed onthe upper surface of said plate, a plurality of. 'angularly 4related coin guide-chutes formed in said plate at the location of said coin receiving portions, a plurality of meter housings each having a base attachable tosaidqreceiving `portions in any one of ak plurality of angularly related positions, and a meter mechanism in each meter housing,.witl1 each of said mechanisms having a coin discharge passage alined with one of said guide chutes in eachrof said positions ot attachment of the meter housing whereby l.coins discharged frorn said passages will beguidcd intosaid coin receptacle by a guide chute.

3. A parking `meter array comprising :a hollow casing having an open top, a coin receptacleinthe hollow of the casing, `a substantially horizontally arranged `plate secured across the top of said casing, a plurality of rectangular meter housing receiving portions. formed .on the upper surface of said plate, a plurality of coin guide chutes formed in saidfplate within the contines of each housing receiving portion and extending parallel to different sides thereof, 'a plurality ofmeter housings each having a rectangular base attachable to said'housing receivingrportions in any one .of` a plurality of positions, and a meter mechanism in each meter housing, with each of said mechanisms having a coin dischargepassage alined with one of said guide chutes in each of said rpositions of attachment of the meter housing whereby 'coins discharged from said passages will be guided .into said coin receptacle by a guide chute.

4. A ,parking meterarray comprising a casing having a compartment therein, a-keyroperated closure door on the casing opening into saidcompartrnent,acoin receptacle in said compartmenha plate .having a plurality of square meter housing receivingportions formed on one surface thereof, means for securingsaid plate to the top of the casing and covering said compartment, said securing means including means accessible only from within said compartment, a plurality of coin guide chutes formed in meter housing whereby coins discharged from said passaid plate within the confines of each housing receiving sages will be guided into said coin receptacle by a guide portion and extending parallel to dilerent sides thereof, a chute.

plurality of meter housings each having a `square base References Cited in the me of this atent attachable to said housing receiving portions in any one 5 p of a plurality of positions, and a meter mechanism in UNITED STATES PATENTS each meter housing, with each of said mechanisms having 1,159,954 Kiss Nov. 9, 1915 a coin discharge passage alined with one of said guide 1,897,601 Baur Feb. 14, 1933 chutes in each of said positions of attachment of the 2,256,398 Lucia Sept. 16, 1941 

